Usability Is Queen: How To Improve The Usability Of Your Website Immediately

Improving the usability of your website will allow your site to have higher visitor retention numbers, lower bounce rates and more conversions.

1. Eliminate question marks. Do not make your users think. Make the navigation and site structure as simple and intuitive as possible. When users are on your site, they should know what to do next in the easiest and quickest way possible. Users don’t read but scan. As such, a distinct structure with visual clues will help users find their path from point A to point B without hassle. The less questions marks you give your users on your website, the more they will stay on your site and for a longer time.

Instrument’s clean page layout only presents 2 simple options for the user: the site map menu on the top right or “Read article” on the bottom left.

2. Focus on effective writing. Spend time using words to get directly to the point. When in doubt, subtract. Use short and concise phrases to present information and avoid unnecessary information, long sentences and complicated vocabulary. Use simple language that is to the point and useful. One way is to use the readability test tool.

Tsmplaw’s short and effective choice of words shows how their company’s staff stands out from other law firms in dealing with their clients.

3. Don’t test visitor’s patience. First impression matters. Attempt to make your site unobtrusive and comforting for your visitors. When you require too much time and information from your visitors, you run the risk of turning them off. Make your site quick to load and obtain information. Many users leave a website that takes more than 3 seconds to load.

4. Embrace white space. Instead of complex structures that are hard to read, scan, analyse and work with, use whitespace to reduce clutter and to focus user’ attention on critical information presented on the screen. Remember one of the first thing a visitor does on a website is to scan the page and divide the content area into small digestible sizes of information.

5. Follow up to meet goals. Do not stop interaction with your audience on your website. Provide simple follow up actions on your site so you can maintain and grow your relationship with your existing and potential customers.

Hnworth’s newsletter sign up only requires 3 pieces of information for all users to stay in touch.